Rumors have been persistent that several NFL teams may make a run at hiring Saban this offseason.

Saban left LSU for the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day 2004. In two seasons with the Dolphins, he went 15-17. Saban was also an NFL assistant with the Cleveland Browns and Houston Oilers.

On Monday, Saban expressed regret over his Dolphins exit in an interview with Dan Le Batard on Miami radio station 790 The Ticket (via Sports Radio Interviews).

"The big thing with me is not handling the way I left well," he told Le Batard. "That's always been a thing with me. I've never felt good about. I'll probably never feel good about it."

Saban repeatedly had denied an interest in returning to the college ranks while with the Dolphins, but shortly after the 2006 season ended, he accepted the Alabama job. Saban has since won two national titles at 'Bama and will play Notre Dame on Jan. 7 for a shot at a third.

"This has been a good thing for my family to be here," Saban told Le Batard. "College football has been very good for us. The positive impact that you can have on these young men as players and as people, that's just something that we really enjoy and something that I learned about myself.

"I really enjoy what I'm doing here right now. I'm getting old now. I don't think we've got too many moves left in us ... Hopefully I'll be able to stay here for a long, long time."

Saban, 61, is under contract through 2020 and is the highest-paid coach in the country at $5.6 million a season.